Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Latimore Township, Pennsylvania

Latimore Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and structures inside Latimore Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

  • Compliance is determined through the Township zoning-permit process.

  “The permit process is necessary to comply with the zoning ordinance adopted by the Township.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications inside Latimore Township.

  • The application provides a district checklist; parcel-specific district determination remains necessary.

  “Zoning District (Check one) [ ] Agricultural-Conservation-1 [ ] Agricultural-Conservation-2 [ ] Residential-Agricultural [ ] Residential-Suburban [ ] Commercial-Industrial [ ] Flood Plain”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage applications and municipal sewage enforcement inside Latimore Township.

  • The Township directs applicants needing a sewer application to its Sewage Enforcement Officer.

  “I need a sewer application. What do I do? Contact the Sewage Enforcement Officer: John Shambaugh (717) 512-8434”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land-development proposals inside Latimore Township.

  • For a major subdivision of more than five lots or land development, the guidance calls for sketch-plan review and later preliminary-plan submissions.
  • The guidance is not a substitute for the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
  • Preliminary-plan applicants must submit twelve copies at least ten business days before the next Planning Commission meeting and pay the Township filing fee.

  major subdivision threshold: > 5 lots (Also applies to land development.)

  “Major Subdivision (more than 5 lots) or Land Development Step 1 - Sketch Plan Submission”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Latimore Township zoning-permit applications.

  • The cited zoning application states the fee to enclose with that application; it does not establish fees for all permit types.

  zoning application fee: 50 USD (Made payable to Latimore Township.)

  “Enclose Zoning Application fee of $50.00 made payable to Latimore Township.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit and subdivision/land-development processing inside Latimore Township.

  • A zoning application must provide lot dimensions, existing and proposed building dimensions and locations, building heights, proposed uses, and other information necessary to determine conformance.
  • Subdivision guidance is expressly not a replacement for controlling ordinances.

  “Submit twelve (12) copies of the Preliminary Plan to the Township Secretary at least ten (10) business days prior to the next regularly scheduled Township Planning Commission meeting.”

Rules another office applies inside Latimore Township

Latimore Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or building work inside Latimore Township subject to Pennsylvania UCC administration.

  • Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may be made without a permit if an application is submitted to the building code official within three business days.
  • Latimore Township directs residents to Middle Department Inspection Agency for building permits and inspections.

  “The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building projects inside Latimore Township subject to Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.

  • The Commonwealth states that the UCC has to be followed by builders in Pennsylvania.

  “The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) regulates the codes and standards of building projects in the Commonwealth.”

• InspectionsLimited

  UCC work inside Latimore Township.

  • Inspections are necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings; electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems; pools or hot tubs; and specified manufactured or industrialized-housing work.
  • Latimore Township identifies Middle Department Inspection Agency for building permits and inspections.

  “Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings or facilities inside Latimore Township subject to UCC occupancy approval.

  • The certificate must be issued before the building or facility can be used.

  “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Individual or community onlot sewage systems and buildings served by them inside Latimore Township.

  • Exceptions are provided by 25 Pa. Code § 72.22(c)-(e), including specified temporary portable toilets, certain water-conservation devices where the existing onlot system is not altered, and qualifying owner-family systems on qualifying ten-acre tracts unless a local rule requires a permit.

  “No person may install, award a contract for construction or construct an individual or community onlot sewage system, or install, construct, occupy or use a building to be served by that system without first obtaining a permit from the local agency, except as provided in subsections (c)—(e).”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Individual or community onlot sewage systems installed inside Latimore Township.

  • The system must be inspected, approved, and covered before the structure is occupied.
  • The applicant must notify the local agency when installation is complete and ready for inspection.

  “No part of an individual or community onlot sewage system may be covered until a final inspection is conducted and final written approval is given by the local agency.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Water-conservation sanitation devices and qualifying permit-exempt onlot systems inside Latimore Township.

  • A recycling, incinerating, composting, or other water-conservation toilet is exempt only where the existing onlot system will not be altered.
  • A qualifying permit-exempt system has siting, notification, and documentation requirements.

  “A permit is not required for the installation of a recycling toilet, incinerating toilet, composting toilet or other type of water conservation device where the existing onlot system will not be altered.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Latimore Township or Adams County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Latimore Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Latimore Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Latimore Township.
• Setbacks — Residential districts inside Latimore Township.
• Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Latimore Township.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.